Philippine Courts PDF

**SUPREME COURT** - **Supreme Court**: The highest court in the Philippines; final decision-maker in judicial issues. - **Judicial Functions**: Settles legal controversies, conducts judicial review. - **Administrative Functions**: Supervises judiciary employees,...

**SUPREME COURT** - **Supreme Court**: The highest court in the Philippines; final decision-maker in judicial issues. - **Judicial Functions**: Settles legal controversies, conducts judicial review. - **Administrative Functions**: Supervises judiciary employees, sets legal practice rules, and procedural rules for all courts. - **Composition**: 1 Chief Justice, 14 Associate Justices (appointed by the President from the Judicial and Bar Council list). - **Qualifications**: - Natural-born Filipino - At least 50 years old - 15+ years as judge/lawyer - Proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence. - **Tenure**: Until 70 years old or incapacitated; removable by impeachment only. **LOWER COURTS** - **Regional Trial Courts (RTC)**: Second-level courts, divided into 13 judicial regions with multiple branches; hears appeals from lower courts. - **Court of Appeals**: Reviews appeals from RTC decisions. - **Metropolitan Trial Courts**: Handles cases in Metro Manila. - **Municipal Trial Courts**: Handles cases in cities or municipalities. - **Municipal Circuit Trial Courts**: Covers two or more municipalities. - **Shari'a Courts**: Resolves conflicts involving Muslim personal and customary laws. - **Sandiganbayan**: Special court for anti-graft and corruption cases involving public officials. **KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY** - **Purpose**: Settles disputes at the barangay level to decongest court cases. - **Requirement**: Cases must first be filed with Katarungang Pambarangay before going to court.